Chain having rollers forming its conveying surface



May 22, 1951 A. w. LEMMON CHAIN HAVING ROLLERS FORMING ms CONVEYING SURFACE Filed May 12, 1948 Y 20 w mM A N E W mw X E A Patented May 22, 1 951 rem? AmiiafionMay a194s, Serial. Nolza ise My inventionrelates to conveyer chainsland more particularly to conveyer :chains and parts thereof which carry rollers for facilitating the removal of obj ectsasuch asboards'yboxes -andrthe like ='conveyed fizhereon sideward-ly with respect to thedirectionof travel of the chainsa One object of mydnventiOnflis: to provide im proved chain construction of the type' set fo rtli above:- r

Another ubject of my invention is to -provide improved-link structure for chain ofthe-type i set fo'rthabove:

Another" object :o-fim-y J invention is to provide an improved -one piece bodyadaptedf to' parry an object supportingrol-ler-on achain.

stillsganother object of iny invention to "provide an improved chain construction l form'ediof interconnected adj'acent'chain units eanh incliiding -a' chain-link body, frame Or bIQBk having side straps pivotallyconnected to oneend-thereof for comiecting the chain link bloclc' to -'-a block of the next adjacent unit; thechainblocks carry: ing: rollers 1 the -end's' of which liec1osely=adja cent each other when the chain is assembled -2and= supported-upon aflat 'surfaca- Other 'obg'ects' of=my invention wil1 appear here'- inafter the novel" fea.i',i;ires---and combinations as: ingset forth in theappendedclaimsl In the accompanyingdrawings;

Fig. l is Lea l side-view: of a portion" c' f "acon veyer chain -embodying the features of ing; in-= vention;

Fig. 2 is'a "viewin plan -oi 'a portion 0i the chain seenin-Fi'g'z- 1 Fig; 3 is a yiewdooking at an end 'of th'e chain seenin Fig.4} and Fig-. 4 is a View :in lperspectitreg but on -a-smaller scale; showing: a unit of chai-n which is com-i prisedirofr azslink"; body, frame or z'block that supe ports-'airoller fandcttwozzsidei straps :orconnectormembers icithatil connect the=- roller carrying 1i body; frame :or block anadjacenteli'nmbcdy; frame :orrblock of another similarzunitiofachainr; aiportionioftheroller being brokerriawayj torshow detailswof the rollerzsupportinggiihk, 'body;-iframe or;block:. r

SwCIaimSw (Cl.198 183)' ingsithere-sarevshownzfragments OZTEPOIfiOHS ofua conveyerschain it! which includes the featuressoi my invention. The fragments of chainzshown in these rfiguresi constitute butrza :part ofiana endless conveyer. chainiwhich rissadaptedztozoperate over head-iand:foot sprocketsgof.,a-iconveyeninot shown; The'chain I9-:carriesvaaplurality oflrcllerss! l the axes J of which 2 extend: longitudinal1y: or 1112' the direction'oftravelaof the-chainv I 0 .5

One :example of- :the: use :ofzmygimproved'rchain is": in i a? sorting. conveyer ifromaawhi'ch sawedt lume ber. or: boards ereifsortedsin a saw mill wherein thdiroll'er's: I l function to -facilitate the removal of thesawed lumb er 'or boards whichrest upon the: upper or conveying surface of the-rollersby permitting them to be'moved laterally, that is, transversely of the directionof travel of the conveyer chains.

My improved chain II) includs-a plurality of symmetrical one piece-chain links, bodies, frames or blocks 12 each of which supports-a roller-ii. The chain links, bodies, frames or blocksare interconnected-by pairs of sidestraps or connector members it and actually lthe chain is built 'up of units each of which includes' on'e of the'chain links, bodies, frames or b1ocks=-i2 anda pair of side straps or connector members 43; One of these units-is seen perspective -in l igsi of the drawings.

Referring particularlyto Fig; liof'tlie' drawings, the chain link, body, frame or block--12 is shown as being formed of acasting, although ifdesired' it may be fabricated of individual 'members weld ed together. The block! 2 car-ries-a-roller- H and "includes'a pair of "parallel spaced generally U-shapedside bar-portions 44 which are inter* connected and spaced apart by a pair of identical spaced. integrat knuckles l 5 "at opposite ends of said side bars. The b'ottcms of the side-bars M form flat bases or bearing surfaces It which are adapted to ride upona plane formedby a flat surfaceof a conveyer'bed, trough-or'tlie like, not shown. Each ofth'e side bars M has upwardly extending leg portionsi'l at opposite ends thereof which make acute-angles therewith and extend'beyond the knuckles l5."- Thus'the side bar portions M; as seen in Figs: land 4,-are up-. right generally U-shapecl' portions-of 'thechain link, body, frame or block i 2Q The ends -of-"eachleg i1 of' the generallyupright U-shap'ed side bar-portions fair into generally inverted U -shaped upright'end cross brackets 58' which integrally connectedjacent legs I? ofthe generallyyU-shaped side bar portions. M and which extend substantially atirightangles with respect toandilieiat'th'e.same side of the plane on Which'the spaced side bar portions it lie; The knuckles l5 which"interconnect the spaced U-shaped side'bar portionsi! 4 arespaced to-interconnect the u-"shaped'jsid'e bar portions M at their ends and they'are so spaced with re-' spect to each other that ato'oth ofa' sprocket,v not shown, ma interfit between theknuckles and the side bar portions :54;

From the foregoingitwill be seen that'ith'e' chain link; body, frame-or block when viewed in plan is substantially rectangular and is com prised of two similar spaced generally upright U hapedside portions; the adjacentfiupwardly extendinglegs" of each" of which are 'ii'ite'rcon nested by generally inverted upright U-shaped' cross brackets; and that 'the 'spa'ced u shaped' side bar portions -are' "interconnected-at opposite ends by a pair of spaced knuckles adapted to interfit with a tooth of a sprocket.

The inverted U-shaped cross brackets B8 are drilled as at [9 to provide axially aligned open ings through which a roller supporting shaft 263 extending longitudinally of the body E2 or in the direction of travel of the chain is received. Preferably the ends of shaft 2!! are swedgecl or riveted to secure the shaft against endwise and rotational movement in the cross bracket portions 58 of the chain block. A roller I! is carried between the inverted U-shaped cross bracket portions it by the shaft 26' with the body of the roller E i being supported above the knuckles 55 of the chain block and extending at each end an equal distance endwardly beyond each'of the knuckles E5. The knuckles it are provided with central bores i each'of which is adapted to receive a cross pin 22 the ends of which extend through the U-- shaped side bar portions I l of the chain block and through openings 23 formed adjacent the ends of the cooperating side straps or connector members l3.

The side straps or connector members it are symmetrical, that is, each of them is rounded at each of its ends and is provided with an opening 23 therein which is adapted to be received by a pin 22. The ends of the pins 22 are riveted or swedged to secure the side straps or connector members [3 thereon against rotation, but if desired other means associated with the ends of pins 22 may be employed for this purpose. The pins 22 being secured to the side strap or connector members l3 are in efiect a part of them, and they rotate in and co-operate with the central bores 2! in knuckles is to form pivots or bearings permitting rotation of the blocks M and side bars [3 with respect to each other about the axes of pins 22.

As best seen in Fig. l of the drawings, the leg sections H of the side portions 54 of each chain block !2 extend longitudinally of the chain H3 and beyond the adjacent knuckle l of the block H of which the leg I! and knuckle is form parts. It will also be seen that the inverted U-shaped cross brackets 5% lie closely adjacent each other when the chain is assembled and its bearing surfaces it are resting upon a flat support whereby adjacent ends of the rollers I l of adjacent blocks 12 are spaced closely together. It will also be seen that the bottom surface 2-4; of each of the inverted U-shaped cross brackets it lies in a plane which is above the top surfaces of the side strap or connector members It and the tops of the bottom sections it of the blocks !2, this for the purpose of permitting a tooth of a sprocket to interfit between and co-operate with adjacent knuckles [5 of adjacent chain blocks 12.

In assembling the chain shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of units shown in Fig. 4, the bores or openings 23 in the side straps or connector members is are aligned with the central core 2i in the knuckle 15 of the chain block i2 of another unit and a pin 22 is inserted through the openings 23 and bore 2! and is riveted or swedged to interlock the pin 22 with the side straps is thereby forming a portion of chain including two of the units.

Obviously by repeating this assembling process a more endless roller supporting chains positioned side by side and each of which operates over a flat conveyer bed between head and foot sprockets and that lumber is placed upon the conveyer transversely of the direction of travel of the spaced endless conveyer chains and upon the rollers thereof. The lumber placed upon the conveyers may be of various sizes and as the chain conveys the lumber, men stationed at various points along the length of the conveyer sort and classify the lumber and remove it from the conveyer merely by pulling it upon the rollers I l sidewardly or transversely of the direction of travel of the conveyer. It will be seen, of course, that my improved chain may have uses other than in lumber mills such, for example, as in the handling of boxes or objects having fiat bottoms.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided improved chain structure including chain links, bodies, frames or blocks, each of which is symmetrical and that these one piece symmetrical chain link bodies, frames or blocks are interconnected by simple connector members in the form of flat side straps. It will also be seen that the ends of adjacent roller supporting brackets of adjacent blocks are closely adjacent and face each other and are each spaced an equal distance from a plane intersectin at right angles the plane in which the axes of the connector pin lie and bisecting the distance between the connector pins of the adjacent roller supporting blocks.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended and I wish therefore not be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A link for a conveyer chain having a symmetrical one piece body, said body including parallel two spaced side bar portions lying on a plane and interconnecting two spaced cross knuckle portions adapted to interfit with a tooth of a sprocket, said spaced side bar portions extending at each end beyond said spaced cross knuckles and to the same side of said plane at acute angles with respect thereto and the adjacent ends of each thereof fairing into one of a pair of spaced parallel roller supporting end cross bracket portions each forming an end of said body and lying in planes extending substantially at right angles with respect to the plane on which said side bar portions lie and at the same side thereof, a roller shaft extending between said roller supporting bracket portions, and a roller carried by said shaft between said roller supporting portions, the roller lying with its axis extending substantially in the direction of travel of a chain including said link and with said roller lying above said spaced knuckle portions when said side bars are lying on said plane.

2. A conveyer chain including link blocks and side straps interconnecting said link blocks, each of said link blocks being adapted to support a roller upon an axis extending in the direction of travel of the chain and including a symmetrical body having two spaced parallel side bar portions lying on a plane andinterconnecting two similar spaced cross knuckle portions adapted to interfit with a tooth of a sprocket, said spaced side bar portions extending at each end beyond said spaced cross knuckles and to the same side of said plane at acute angles with respect thereto and the adjacent ends of each thereof fairin into one of a pair of spaced end parallel roller supporting end cross bracket portions each forming an end of said body and lying in a plane extending substantially at right angles with respect to the plane on which said side bar portions lie and at the same side thereof, a roller shaft extending between said roller supporting bracket portions, a roller carried by said shaft between said rollersupporting portions, the body of the roller lying with its axis extending substantially in the direction of travel of a chain including said link, and pin means extending through each of said knuckles and at each end through one 'end of said'link block interconnecting side straps.

3. A conveyer chain including link blocks and side straps interconnecting said link blocks, each of said link blocks being adapted to support a roller upon an axis extending in the direction of travel of the chain and including a symmetrical body having two parallel spaced side bar portions lying on a plane and interconnecting two centrally bored cross knuckle portions adapted to interfit with a tooth of a sprocket, a pair of side straps interconnecting adjacent of said link block bodies, one of said straps lying outside each of said side bar portions of said link block bodies, pin means extending through the ends of said side straps and the bores of said knuckle portions, said spaced side bar portions of each of said link block bodies extending at each end beyond said spaced cross knuckle portions and terminating in roller supporting cross bracket portions off-set to the same side of said plane and substantially at right angles thereto whereby a tooth of a sprocket may interfit between the adjacent knuckle portions of the adjacent link block bodies, the roller supporting cross bracket portions of adjacent link blocks lying side by side when said chain is supported upon a flat surface, a roller shaft extending between the roller supporting bracket portions of .each link block body, and a roller carried by each of said shafts whereby the ends of said rollers lie closely adjacent each other, travel bodily in a direction along their axes, and material supported thereon may be rolled therefrom at a right angle to their direction of travel.

4. A symmetrical integral one piece chain link body including spaced side bar portions of generally U-shape conformation, a pair of similar spaced knuckle portions interconnecting and spacing said side portions one adjacent each end of said side bar portions, and end connector portions of generally inverted U-shape conformation, each of said inverted U-shaped end connector portions interconnecting adjacent ends of said spaced side portions.

5. A symmetrical chain link including a symmetrical one piece body having spaced parallel side portions of generally U-shap conformation, a pair of identical spaced knuckle portions interconnecting and spacing said side portions,

and end connector portions of generally inverted U-shape conformation, each of said inverted U-shaped end connector portions interconnecting adjacent ends of said space-d side portions, a shaft means extending between connected substantially at the top and center of each of said generally inverted U-shaped connector portions, and a roller upon said shaft.

6. A chain link including a symmetrical chain link body having two spaced parallel side bars interconnected by two similar spaced cross knuckles at opposite ends of said side bars and adapted to interfit with a tooth of a sprocket, a pair of similar end cross brackets integrally connected to and above said side bars and at opposite ends thereof, said end brackets being positioned longitudinally outwardly of the adjacent cross knuckles, an elongated roller, and means supporting said roller between said cross brackets with the axis of the roller extending longitudinally of said body and with said roller lying link body having two spaced parallel side bars interconnected by two similar spaced cross knuckles at opposite ends of said side bars and adapted to interfit with a tooth of a sprocket, a pair of similar end cross brackets integrally connected to and above said side bars and at opposite ends thereof, an elongated roller, and means supporting said roller between said cross brackets with the axis of the roller extending longitudinally of said body and with said roller lying above said spaced cross knuckles when said side bars rest on a horizontal plane, said roller extending longitudinally beyond each of said cross knuckles. 8. A chain link including a symmetrical chain link body having two spaced parallel side bars interconnected by two similar spaced cross knuckles at opposite ends of said side bars and adapted to interfit with a tooth of a sprocket, a pair of similar end cross brackets integrally connected to and above said side bars and at opposite ends thereof, an elongated roller, and means Supporting said roller between said cross brackets with the axis of the roller extending longitudinally of said body and with said roller lying above said spaced cross knuckles when said side bars rest on a horizontal plane.

ALEXIS W. LEMMON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,641,642 Pangborn Sept. 6, 1927 1,743,728 Pangborn Jan. 14, 1930 1,745,192 Shafer Jan. 28, 1930 1,748,456 Pangborn Feb. 25, 1930 1,883,005 Shafer Oct. 18, 1932 

